UN warns Trump over two-state reversal

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump

The UN chief has warned Donald Trump against abandoning the idea of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying there is “no alternative”.

It comes after Mr Trump went against decades of US policy, saying he would back whatever formula led to peace.

Palestinians reacted with alarm to the possibility that the US could drop support for Palestinian statehood.

The last round of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks broke down in 2014.

Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, President Trump promised to deliver a “great” peace deal.

But he said both sides must compromise.

“So I’m looking at two states and one state,” he said. “And I like the one that both parties like.”

‘Substance, not labels’

Following the news conference, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged the international community to do everything it could to bring about a two-state solution.

He said there was no other option for resolving the conflict.

When he was asked about a two-state solution on Wednesday, Mr Netanyahu said he wanted to focus on “substance” and not “labels”.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, meanwhile, said he remained committed to the goal.

He also seized on President Trump’s comments urging Mr Netanyahu to “hold back on settlements for a little bit”.

Since Mr Trump took office last month, Israel has approved thousands of new homes in West Bank and East Jerusalem, land claimed by the Palestinians for a future state.

The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.